Liquid lifting device



April 2s, 1942. H. M. FAYMAN 2,281,146

LIQUID LIFTING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1941 INVENTOR. Habe/VUV. ymd/v Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,281,146 LIQUID LIFTING DEVICE Hubert M. Fayman, Kansas City, Mo. Application Maren s, 1941,seria.1`N0. 382,408

4 claims. `(o1. 10s- 236) y Thisinvention relates to improvements in a liquid lifting device and refers more particularly to a receptacle to be placed on a portable vehicle with` a connection to a vacuum `source such as a manifold of an internall combustion engine, in order to lift liquids from reservoirs located below the level of the device.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced by utility companies, such as the water, gas and electrical departments of municipalities in draining wells, sumps or reservoirs of water surroundinggauges or meters which are to be read or serviced. As a usual thing, a power or manually operated suction pump orwbailing device is resorted to, making for delay and expense in labor costs.

One object of the `present invention is to supply a simple device operated from,` the vacuum created in the inlet manifold .of an internal combustion engine, functioning automatically through a vacuum receptacle to draw Water into the receptacle and automatically dump the receptacle when full. v

Another object of the invention is to` eliminate the necessity of using a separate power or man-y ually operated suction pump, as well as the `necessity of tediously bailing by hand water from a below-@Glind reservoir or well.

In the accompanying drawing which formsy part of the instant specification and is to be read in conjunction therewithand in` which like reference numerals are used to `indicate like parts in the various views;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational viewV of a portion of an automotive vehicle with a vacuum device positioned on the running board.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the oat and vacuum relief valve assembly.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of a portion` of the vacuum receptacle with parts broken away. Y v y Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4---4 of Fig.` 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. The art is replete with `patents showing the use of a vacuum tank for transferring liquid froma reservoir positioned at the rear of an automotive vehicle to the `engine under theV hood and,.in fact,A this was the conventional method of .feeding fuel to an internal combustion engine before the present fuel pump was developed.

Typicalof such patents are the patents to W. R. Hendricks, No. 1,721,272, dated July 16, 1929, and R.. C. Huff, No. 1,399,964, dated December 13, 1921.

Likewise, it is recognized that the suction created in the inlet manifold ofan internal combustion engine has been `employed to create a vacuum upon an auxiliarytank or receptacle to pump or lift liquids as shown in the patent to I-I. J. Weiersha'user, No. 1,393,861, dated October 18, 1921. v

Applicants device, however, is distinguishable from this art by the features ofthe oat and vacuurn .relief valve assembly and the utilization of an air inlet standpipe which discharges air above the level of the liquid during the emptyingoperation, assuring rapid and complete exhaustion of th liquid from the vacuum receptacle..

Referring to the drawing, a vacuum receptacle I, consistingv of a metal tank of any convenient shape, is positioned on the running board 2 of a vehicle 3. The vehicle is driven by an internal combustion engine, diagrammatically shown at 4, having an inlety manifold, 5,. On. top` of the receptacle is mounted ,a valve body 6 which has the formof `a T-shaped connection, the lowerfleg 6d communicating with the vacuum receptacle I; the upper leg 6b has an openingto the atmosphere; and the intermediate leg 6c is connected by means of a pipe I to the inlet manifold 5.

Details of the float and valve` assembly are shown in Fig. 2. Around the lower leg 6a of the valve body is a flange .8 which, when seated on a compressible` gasket `9 forms a pressure-tight t between the vacuum receptacleand the lower leg Ba of the valve body. This portion of the valve body is threaded to receive a clamping ring I9 which draws the flange 8 tightly `against the gasket 9. Within the valve body is positioned` a guide member Il whichis `centered at the top and bottom byperforated anges I2 and I3 respectively. A perforated disk I4 is positioned at the upper extremity 5b` of the valve body, serving as aseat for the valve I5 and acting as a closure for the opening in the disk `Ifl when vacuum is being imposed on the `receptacle I. The valve I5 is mounted on theupper extremity of the valve stem or rod I l, held centrally in the valve body bythe guide II.` lOn `the lower extremity of the rod Il` is a Afloat I8 which raises and lowers with the rise and fall of liquid in the receptacle I.

Also having `communication with the top of the vacuum receptacle byrnea-ns of a tapped boss I9 is an elbow 2U and flexiblehose ZI.

In the bottom Aof the receptacleisla liquid discharge opening 22 and an airvent opening 23, both of which are closed by means of a weighted rlap valve 24, hinged at 25 to the bottom of the receptacle. The flap valve ts against a compressible gasket 26, assuring a liquid-tight fit between the flap valve and the bottom of the vacuum receptacle. Attached to the fiap valve is a rod 2l upon which is mounted an adjustable weight 28, the rod being positioned at a proper angle with the flap valve to hold it normally in a closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. In the air vent opening 23 is a standpipe 29 which is sufliciently long to rise above the upper level of the liquid maintained in the vacuum receptacle by float I3.

In operation, a vacuum is created in the receptacle I by suction through the pipe l' from the inlet manifold 5. being empty, the float is in a lowered position, lowering valve l5 to a seated position on the disk I4, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, thereby sealing the receptacle from communication to The vacuum receptacle the atmosphere at the top. The hinged ap valve 24 is likewise seated as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, due to the eect of the Weight 2B. The

`flexible tubing or hose 2| is then immersed in the liquid to be raised or drawn from the'treser voir. Vacuum imposed upon the receptacle draws the liquid into the receptacle as long as the lower end of the tube 2| is immersed. 'When the liquid has risen to a height in the vacuum receptacle that it lifts the float i8, valve l5 will be raised from its seat and the vacuum seal broken in the receptacle, thus permitting the weight of a column of fluid to break the seal of the Weighted ap or dump valve 24, discharging the water through the outlet 22 onto the surface of the ground. As the liquid is discharged from the vacuum receptacle, air is admitted through the air inlet 23 and standpipe 25 to the receptacle to displace the water discharged therefrom.

The height that liquid can be raised by this device depends `upon the viscosity of the liquid and the value in inches of mercury of the vacuum created in the receptacle by suction of the intake manifold. The economy of the device and its efficiency in operation lends itself readily to removal of water from wells, sumps and reservoirs of small capacity.

The device is adaptable as well to use as a bailing apparatus for power boats driven by internal combustion engines. 'Ihe Vacuum line to the receptacle would be connected to the engine, the liquid suction pipe immersed in the bilge and the discharge valve located above the level of the water body in which the boat is floating.

It will bev understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed Without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims Awithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A vacuum device for lifting liquid from al reservoir below the level of the device adapted to be used with a vacuum source such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, including in combination a liquid receptacle, a. connection near its top communicating with a vacuum source, a liquid supply line connected near the top of the receptacle, a discharge valve in the bottom of the receptacle, an air inlet standpipe mounted in the discharge valve opening, a float in the receptacle and a vacuum relief valve coacting with the float to release to the atmosphere the connection to the vacuum source and open the discharge valve and air inlet standpipe.

2. A vacuum device for lifting liquid from a reservoir below the level of the device adapted to be used with a vacuum source such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, including in combination a liquid receptacle, a liquid supply line connected near the top of the receptacle, a discharge valve in the bottom of the receptacle, an air inlet standpipe mounted in the discharge opening, a valve body having communication to the vacuum source, the atmosphere and the receptacle, a oat in the receptacle, a vacuum relief valve serving as a closure to the atmospheric communication to the valve body, said vacuum relief valve mounted upon a rod slidable in the valve body, said oat and vacuum relief valve coacting with the liquid level in the receptacle to open the elevated discharge valve and air inlet standpipe.

3. A vacuum device for lifting liquid from a reservoir below the level of the device adapted to be used with a vacuum source such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, including in combination a liquid receptacle having a discharge opening in its bottom, a standpipe having an air passage opening through the bottom of the receptacle, a valve plate to close the discharge opening and the air inlet of the standpipe, a connection near the topof the receptacle communicating with a vacuum source, a liquid supply line .connected near the top of the receptacle, a float in the receptacle and a vacuum relief valve coacting with the float to release tothe atmosphere the connection to the vacuum source andto open the valve plate, opening of the valve plate permitttng lthe contents of the receptacle to discharge therefrom and permitting atmospheric ail` to enter the air pas- 'sage of the standpipe.

4. A vacuum device for lifting liquid from a reservoir below the level of the device adapted to be used with a vacuum source such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, including in combination a liquid receptacle having a discharge opening in its bottom, a standpipe having an air passage opening through the bottom of the receptacle, a valve plate to close the discharge opening and the air inlet of the standpipe and adjustable weight means to normally` hold the valve plate in a closed position, a liquid supply line connected near the top of the receptacle, a valve body having communication with a vacuum source, the atmosphere, and the receptacle, a float in the receptacle, and a vacuum relief valve serving as a closure to the communication to the atmosphere, said vacuum relief valve mounted upon a rod slidable in the valve body, said float and vacuum relief valve coacting with the rise in liquid levelin the receptacle to open the valve plate whereby to permit the liquid to discharge from the receptacle and to permit atmospheric air to enter the air passage of the standpipe. 

